The New Pharaohs of Joshua and Judges

BibleProject

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Published: Mon Mar 10 2025

The Exodus Way E5 — By the time we get to the scroll of Joshua, the Israelites are preparing to enter the land of promise. But we quickly discover a reverse Exodus happening in the narrative. The Canaanite kings—who are depicted as new pharaohs—assemble with armies to meet Israel on the other side of the Jordan River. And in the midst of the story, a Canaanite woman in Jericho actually shows more faith than anyone! Then in the following scroll of Judges, the identity of the pharaohs shifts again—this time to the Israelites, who enslave themselves due to their own corruption and injustice. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss how Joshua and Judges hyperlink back to the Exodus Way narrative theme, while also pointing to a coming Messianic leader who can lead us out of exile, through the wilderness, and into a true land of inheritance.

Summary

BibleProject Podcast Summary: "The New Pharaohs of Joshua and Judges"

Release Date: March 10, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "The New Pharaohs of Joshua and Judges," hosts Tim Mackey and John Collins delve deep into the intricate narratives of the biblical books of Joshua and Judges. They explore how these books continue and complicate the Exodus story, introducing new challenges and "Pharaohs" that Israel must confront as they enter the Promised Land. The discussion highlights themes of leadership, fidelity, and the cyclical nature of oppression and deliverance within the Israelite community.

1. The Exodus Template and Its Repetition

Tim Mackey opens the conversation by recalling the archetypal Exodus journey: rescue from slavery in Egypt, a perilous journey through the wilderness, and finally, entry into the land of promise. However, he notes that the entry into the Promised Land is far from a straightforward "homecoming."

Tim Mackey [00:04]: "The Exodus is the way out of slavery. ... entering into the land is not so simple. In the land, Israel finds new traps, new tests, and new pharaohs."

John Collins supports this by highlighting how the Canaanite leaders are analogized to Pharaoh, introducing a continuity yet a new dimension to the oppression Israel faces.

John Collins [00:39]: "The Canaanite leaders are depicted through hyperlinks on analogy to pharaoh."

2. Entering the Promised Land: Joshua

Joshua's Mission and Rahab

The conversation shifts to Joshua's leadership following Moses' death. John Collins outlines Joshua's mission to lead Israel into Canaan, mirroring Moses' role.

John Collins [02:41]: "...everywhere that the soles of your feet tread, I give it to you, just as I promised to Moses."

A pivotal moment discussed is the story of Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute who aids Israelite spies. This narrative challenges traditional notions of good and evil by positioning Rahab, a non-Israelite and a woman of questionable repute, as a figure of faith and deliverance.

John Collins [00:53]: "Prostitute Rahab... she's the faithful one... the surprising inversion of who you think good guys and bad guys are."

Analogy to Pharaoh and Inversion of Good/Bad

Collins emphasizes how Rahab's actions invert expectations, drawing parallels to other biblical stories where unlikely characters play crucial roles in God's plan.

John Collins [15:16]: "It's a surprising inversion of who you think the good guys and bad guys are. It just starts scrambling your categories for that."

Crossing the Jordan and Analogies to Exodus

The hosts explore the crossing of the Jordan River, drawing direct comparisons to the crossing of the Red Sea during the Exodus. Collins points out linguistic and thematic similarities that reinforce the Exodus motif.

John Collins [22:16]: "In Joshua, Joshua went up from Gilgal... the presence that hovers over the Ark protected them... just as in Exodus."

Tim Mackey [22:54]: "Same phrase."

The Battle of Jericho and AI

The narrative of Joshua includes the miraculous fall of Jericho's walls, achieved through ritualistic procession rather than combat. Collins contrasts this with the subsequent battle of AI, where Israel initially faces defeat due to Achan's disobedience, highlighting Israel's internal struggles even as they conquer external foes.

John Collins [17:46]: "Joshua just goes on to conquer another city called AI... before you get to all the stories of them taking the land of the Canaanites, you get these two stories about an outsider... and then an insider... problematizing who is good and bad."

Repetition of the Exodus Template

The discussion underscores how the entry into Canaan is portrayed as a "micro Exodus," with layered cycles of deliverance and failure mirroring the larger Exodus narrative.

John Collins [05:57]: "The road between becomes like a pivot... another recycling or a replaying."

Tim Mackey [12:58]: "Same phrase."

3. Transition to Judges

Israel as the New Pharaoh

Moving into the book of Judges, Collins reveals a dramatic shift: Israel itself becomes the oppressor, akin to Pharaoh. This inversion underscores a cyclical pattern of faithfulness and apostasy within the Israelite community.

John Collins [43:21]: "With little problematic hints here and there... Judges just comes out saying, no, no, no, no."

Tim Mackey [43:20]: "Oh my God... they haven't oppressed Israel."

Cycle of Faithfulness and Apostasy

Mackey and Collins discuss how Judges presents a cycle where Israel turns away from Yahweh, faces oppression from external enemies, cries out for help, and is delivered by leaders akin to judges (or Moses-like figures). This cycle repeats multiple times, highlighting the nation's repeated failures and God's merciful responses.

John Collins [44:50]: "...Yahweh handed them over to enemies and then they were distressed and they would groan and cry out, just like Exodus."

Tim Mackey [44:58]: "The oppressor and the oppressed are the same people because their oppression is because they're turning away from Yahweh."

Dual Nature of Joshua and Judges

The hosts emphasize the dual portrayal of Joshua and Judges, illustrating that the books must be read in tandem to fully grasp the complexities of leadership, fidelity, and societal cycles within Israel.

John Collins [45:08]: "Joshua and Judges sit next to each other in the storyline... the Canaanites are the Pharaoh figures in Joshua, but now the Israelites are the Pharaoh figures in Judges."

4. Lessons and Reflective Thoughts

Complexity of Good and Evil

Collins reflects on the Bible's nuanced portrayal of characters, arguing that what might seem like clear-cut good and evil is often more complex and interconnected.

John Collins [19:35]: "Because it's actually realistic, it's true to how humans really are, which is never one or the other."

Cycles of Oppression and Deliverance

The discussion touches on the frustration and realism embedded in these cycles, questioning the possibility of a definitive escape from recurring patterns of sin and oppression.

Tim Mackey [40:00]: "Another cycle."

John Collins [40:05]: "The road in kind of has forerastes of like the ultimate road in."

Ultimate Hope and Cosmic Redemption

Despite the recurring cycles of failure and deliverance, Mackey and Collins ponder the overarching biblical hope for an ultimate redemption, where the Promised Land is fully realized without reverting to past oppressions.

John Collins [46:56]: "Blessing for the nations in a way that instead of destroying us through decreation... purifies us to be ready to handle a true holy land."

Conclusion

In wrapping up, Tim Mackey and John Collins set the stage for future discussions, hinting at a deeper exploration of Isaiah's prophecies and their connection to the ultimate Exodus narrative.

Tim Mackey [47:26]: "In our next episode, we'll look at the prophecy. Isaiah... a new cosmic exodus where God will create the final road in the road that leads to a city on a mountain."

The episode concludes by highlighting the BibleProject's mission to present the Bible as a unified story leading to Jesus, emphasizing accessibility and community support.

Notable Quotes with Speaker Attribution and Timestamps

Tim Mackey [00:04]: "The Exodus is the way out of slavery... entering into the land is not so simple."
John Collins [00:39]: "The Canaanite leaders are depicted through hyperlinks on analogy to pharaoh."
John Collins [00:53]: "Prostitute Rahab... she's the faithful one... the surprising inversion of who you think good guys and bad guys are."
John Collins [05:57]: "The road between becomes like a pivot... another recycling or a replaying."
John Collins [15:16]: "It's a surprising inversion of who you think the good guys and bad guys are."
John Collins [19:35]: "Because it's actually realistic, it's true to how humans really are, which is never one or the other."
John Collins [43:21]: "With little problematic hints here and there... Judges just comes out saying, no, no, no, no."
John Collins [44:50]: "...Yahweh handed them over to enemies and then they were distressed and they would groan and cry out, just like Exodus."
Tim Mackey [46:56]: "Blessing for the nations in a way that instead of destroying us through decreation... purifies us to be ready to handle a true holy land."

Final Thoughts

This episode of the BibleProject Podcast offers a profound exploration of the books of Joshua and Judges, highlighting their role in continuing the Exodus narrative while introducing complex themes of leadership, fidelity, and societal cycles. Through detailed analysis and thoughtful reflection, Tim Mackey and John Collins encourage listeners to reconsider traditional interpretations of good and evil, leadership, and the enduring hope for ultimate redemption within the biblical story.